Stepping switch



Jan. 18,1927. H w GOFF 14,953

STEPPING SWITCH I Filed May 29, 1922 mw man flara/dl/(fiaff PatentedJan. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD W. GOFF, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRICCOMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

STEPPING SWITCH.

Application filed May 29,

This invention relates to automatic switches and stepping mechanismtherefor.

An object of this invention is to produce a step-by-step switch whereinthe use of ratchet wheels with driving pawls, which are commonlyemployed in connection with switches of this nature, i eliminated.

The foregoing object is accomplished in this invention by the provisionof a magnet, adapted to be energized by pulses of current, a drivenmember and a reciprocable armature. Thedriven member and armature areheld together by the magnetic flux on each forward stroke of thearmature and separated on the back stroke thereof, whereby the drivenmember is stepped forward.

The invention has been shown applied to a switch arranged for use inautomatic telephone systems, but is obviously capable of a wide range ofusage and is therefore not to be limited to this particular function.

A clear conception of this invention will be had by reference to thefollowing detailed specification and accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 represents a. plan view of a switch embodying the invention. Fig.2 is a side view of the switch partly in section.

A magnet 1 adapted to be intermittently energized from any suitablecurrent source is provided with a reciprocable armature 2. The core 3 ofmagnet 1 is associated with an auxiliary core inc-ased in a coppersleeve 4, the main core 3 and the auxiliary core being interconnected bya magnetic yoke 5. Strips of magnetic material run vertically along thesides of magnet 1 terminating in the poles 6 and 7. The armature 2 isprovided with tongues or flanges 8 and 9 which are attracted by poles 6and 7 upon the energizing of magnet 1, thereby causing the armature torotate through a small arc. A driven member 10 is secured to a shaft 11which extends part way through core 3 of magnet 1 and is provided withroller bearings 12 which allow it to rotate freely. The driven member ordisc 10 is located immediately beneath the main body portion of armature2 and is held in contact therewith by the action of a helical spring 13.Securely mountcd on shaft 11 is a set of brushesv 14 which make contactwith terminals or conductors 15 upon the energization of magnet 1. Afeeder 16 for each brush 14 is securely mounted on the framework 171922. Serial No. 564,363.

and is adapted to connect the brush 1% with an external current supplyso as to complete an electric circuit when brush 1 1 makes contact witha conductor 15 upon the energization of magnet 1. Pivotally mounted onthe core incased in sleeve 1 is a pawl 18 which acts as an armature andis attracted by the driven member 10 upon th energizetion of magnet 1.Upon the actuation of pawl 18 contacts 19 are closed, maintaining a busytest on the line with which the stepping switch is individuallyassociated, or controlling any other suitable circuit. The pawl, onbeing actuated, engages teeth on the driven member 10 and maintains thismember .in its operated position until, subsequent to the deenergizationof magnet 1, the pawl 18 returns to its normal position under theinfluence of one of the springs associated with contacts 19. A stop 20is secured to framework 17 and serves to check the backward movement ofpawl 18. A spring 21 engaging one end of the armature 2 returns it toits normal position, the armature 2 being restrained from oversteppingthis position by a stop 22 mounted on pole 6. A stop 23 mounted on pole7 limits the movement of the driven member 10 and prevents the teeththereon from assuming an inoperative position with respect to pawl 18.The dotted area in Fig. 1 represents the magnetic yoke 5 which joins thetwo cores and terminates in poles 6 and 7.

The-operation of the switch disclosed in thisinvention is as follows:

A subscriber operating a dial switch at some distant station causes apulse of current to flow through winding 24 of magnet 1 therebyenergizing it. This causes a mag netic flux to pass through the drivenmember 10 and armature 2, thereby causing these two members to grip eachother. Armature 18 is also attracted and engages a tooth of the drivenmember 10. The poles 6 and 7 of magnet 1 exert an attractive influenceon the flanges 8 and 9, respectively, of armature 2, thereby causing thearmature to move through a small arc. The driven member 10 being inmagnetic engagement with armature 2 rotates therewith and carries thebrushes 14; through a similar arc thereby causing them to wipe overterminals or conductors 15. hen pawl 18 was operated, the contacts 19associated therewith were closed, thereby maintaining a busy test on theline associated with the switch. After the magnetic lux generated by thefirst current pulse has been dissipated, the armature 2 returns to itsnormal position under the influence of spring 21, subsequent to therelease of the driving member 10 from the armature 2. The copper sleeveat acts as a damper to the dying magnetic flux, and maintains thatportion of the magnetic circuit whereby pawl 18 is attracted to drivenmember 10, for a length or time corresponding to the interval betweensuccessive pulses, so that the pawl 18 is kept in engagement with thedriven member 10 preventing this member from returning to its normalposition under the action of spring 13. The next current pulseenergizing magnet 1 causes the locking of the driven member 10 andarmature 2, as before, while the poles 6 and 7 again exert an attractingforce on flanges 8 and 9, respectively, of armature 2, causing thearmature to rotate. This action will step brush 1a to the next terminal15. This cycle of operation is continued until the entire series ofpulses sent out by the subscriber has intermittently energized magnet 1,contacts 19 being maintained closed and pawl 18 held in engagement withdriven member 10 throughout. Magnet 1 is maintained energized while theswitch is in use. After magnet 1 has been deenergized for a relativelylong interval of time, the in fluence of the copper sleeve 4 becomesinettective, so that pawl 18 is released and the driven member 10returned to its normal position by the action of spring 13. The switchis then ready to be influenced by a new set of current pulses.

The drawing discloses but two sets of wire terminals and brushassociated with each set. It is obvious that the capacity of the switchneed not be so limited as provision can be made for more sets ofterminals and a corresponding number of brushes, without departing fromthe spirit of this invention.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In a stepping mechanism, a magnet, an armature controlled thereby andadapted to be intermittently operated, and a member capable of astep-by-step movement by virtue of the magnetic relation between saidmember and said armature.

2. In a stepping mechanism, a magnet having an armature responsive tothe intermittent energization thereof, a member adapted to receive astepping movement by virtue or" its magnetic relation with saidarmature, and means whereby said member is held in its operated positionafter the deenergization of said magnet.

3. In a stepping mechanism, a magnet provided with quick andslow-releasing armatures, and a member magnetically engaging saidarmatures whereby said member is advanced by the actuation of saidquickreleasing armature and held in its advanced position by itsslow-releasing armature.

1. In a stepping mechanism, a magnet provided with quick andslow-releasing arnatures and intermittently energized, and a membermagnetically engaging said arma tures whereby said member is given astepb y-step movement by the actuation of said quick-releasing armatureand is held in its operative position by said slow-releasing armature.

5. In a stepping mechanism, a magnet having a movable armature, a membermovable with said armature by virtue of the magnetic relation betweensaid member and said armature, and means whereby said member is held inits operated position after said magnet is deenergized.

6. In a switch, a magnet provided with a plurality of armatures, amember engaging one of said armatures and moving therewith uponenergization of said magnet, and means whereby another of said armaturesis held in engagement with said member holding in its operated positionafter said magnet is deengrgized.

I. In a switch, a magnet, a reciprocating armature for said magnet, arotatable member engaging said armature upon the energization of saidmagnet and rotating therewith, a second armature magnetically engagingsaid rotatable member upon energization of said magnet, and means forholding said second armature in magnetic engagement with said rotatablemember holding it in its operated position after the deenergization ofsaid magnet.

8. In a switch, a magnet provided with a plurality of armatures, adriven member magnetically engaging said armatures upon energization ofsaid magnet, a brush associated with said driven member and makingcontact with the terminals of an external circuit upon actuation of oneof said armatures, and means whereby another of said armatures is heldin magnetic engagement with said driven member after deenergization ofsaid magnet.

9. In a switch, a magnet adapted to be energized by successive currentpulses, a plurality of armatures for said magnet, a rotatable membermagnetically engaging said armatures upon the energization of saidmagnet and rotating with one of said armatures, and means wherebyanother of said armatures is held in magnetic engagement with saidrotatable member holding it in its rotated position during the intervalbetween successive current pulses in which interval one of saidarmatures is disengaged from said rotatable member and returned to itsnormal position.

10. In a switch, a magnet having inclependently mounted cores andestablishing a plurality of parallel magnetic circuits, an energizingwinding on one of said cores, a plurality of reciprocating armatures, amemr ber magnetically engaging said armat-ures upon energization of saidmagnet whereby said member is caused to rotate, and a metallic casingover another of said cores whereby one of said magnetic circuits ismaintained to keep one of said arn'iatures in engagement with saidmember after said n'iagnet has been deenergized.

11. In a switch, a plurality of terminals, a magnet provided with arotatable armature, a member associated with said armature and carryinga brush, said brush making contact with said terminals upon rotation ofsaid armature, a second armature for said magnet engaging said memberupon energization of said magnet, and means whereby said second armatureis held in engagement with said member after deenergization of saidmagnet.

12. In a stepping mechanism, magnetic means provided with quick andslow-releasing armatures, and a member magnetically engaging saidarmatures whereby said member is advanced by the actuation of saidquickerreleasi11g armature and held in its advanced position by itsslow-releasing armature.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 27th day of May A.1)., 1922.

HAROLD IV. GOFF.

